Float for minnow bucket



H. M. PIKER ETAL FLOAT FOR MINNOW BUCKET sept. 13, 1955 `2,717,469

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. fa, 1949 OO 0 0 0 DGO 0 0 0 O0 0 0 0 L z3 f /0 ,672: y @fr 3s l l .1 s l l 3 IQ. E. l 4 [40 [33 I 7 36 (t il) 42 1N V EN TOR. L HERBERT M. P/KER Y Y i Y Y BY vWILL/AM L- .ScHuLtz ir-1 57 88 Q. M

Acforqey Sept. 13, 1955 H M; P|KER ET AL 2,717,469

FLOAT FOR MINNow BUCKET Filed Aug. 18, 1949 4 2 sheets-sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Henn-RZ' M. P/kER BY W//l/AM L. Scu/zz Attorney United States Patent O 2,717,469 l FLOAT FoR'gMnvNow BUCKET lHerbert M. Piker, wyoming, and william Schultz, Hamilton, Ohio, assignors to The* Hamilton Metal gil'itirdncts Company, Hamilton, LOhio, .a corporation oi' Application lAugust 1s, 1949, serial'No. 110,938

s claims. (C1. isf-say This invention relates to improvements in -minnow buckets of the type havingassociated therewith means for effecting its oatation in the waters being fished and relates particularly rto improvementsin the-means for effecting the said oatation.

Minnow buckets having incorporated therein oatation means are in and of themselves quite old but heretofore such means have been on the cumbersome -side and in some instances quite inefficient in that `depende-nce can not be placed thereon that the bucket would float under any and all circumstances.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a minnow vbucket having associated therewith a float, or means for causing the minnow bucket to iioat, which is formedof material that is considerably less dense than the water displaced for thereby adding substantially no weight to the bucket.

A further object of'this invention is the Aprovision of a novel viioat member `for use with minnow buckets and the like that is extremely light, eflicient in use', and of a novel construction which .is `adapted to be used interiorly of the bucket without materially decreasing the'capacity of the bucket.

A still further object of this invention'is the provision of an improved floating type minnow bucket that will retain its floating property ki'or the life of the bucket and will not tip or keel over when the usual covering lid is raised and left `in a raised position duringthe use of the bucket in removing bait from the bucket. I

It is to be understood that any modifications may be made in the exact structural detailsshown anddescribed, within the scope of the appended clairns,without departing from or exceeding the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is an yelevational .view of a minnow bucket having incorporated therein the vimproved oat means ofthe present invention. Y Y

2 is a top plan view of the bucket as seen in Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary,` vertical, sectional view through the `bucket and its float as `seen from lin'e 3 3 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred lform of float means of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary topplan viewsof the oat means of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of `theiloat means of Fig.

`4 arranged in the position it occupies in the bucket.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary `sectional viewof a4 portion of a minnow bucket showing a modication `in the float means embodying the principles .of the present invention. Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing a further modification of the lloat means ofthe present 'inventionif f Fig. 9 is a perspective view kof a complete oat member such as disclosed in Fig. 8.

Patented Sept. 13, Y1955 ice The minnow bucket, per se, isof-substantiallyhthc usual construction of a pail including a body 1portion '10 cylindrical in cross-section and having -secured toits upper end the top 11.- The pail is provided atits Vlowler end with a bottom 12 with `said bottom4 .f12iandxtop 11=1 -secured to the body portion .in :the usualmanncrflbyfrolling or seaming the edges .to oneanother asiillnstratedrat 13 inFig. 3.

VThe .top 11 is .provided substantially v,centrally@thereof with an aperture or opening 14 .through whihtsaccess tothe interior of the buckety is had `for:.'thezpur'pose .of

supplying bait to the'bucketandremoving'b'ait fnomrthe bucket. The opening :14 is .adapted to be:;c1oSe`d v'Elvia cover 1S suitably apertured .as..at 161m tsupplysairrto the interior of the V'bucket. If desired, the 15 may kbe reinforced :by .suitable ribbing :,suchqas'fll.; l. y

Any suitable or desirable means mayfbefemployed lOr retaining the cover 15in .its closed position, .fthat.,shown in the ,drawing including a hinge 18 Seeuredtothe :bucket ,top 11 'in any suitable or desirablemanner such as by welding, brazing or the like. .The lhinge `18 inciudes :a portion turned on itself to provide `the-.hinge eye 19 which-is anked by hinge Veyes 20 and ,21 integral with and projecting from the cover 135. The hinge eye 19 and .cover eyes 26 and 21 are :adapted-to bealignedtwth one another to receivefthe usual hinge spill 22.. The cover '1,5 is locked in its closed position .by any rsuitable or desirable means such as ythe latch 23 which is secured sto the cover 15.by the rivet Theflatch 23 includes a substantially stationary', rigid, -upstanding post 2 5 -wit-h -which .cooperates the movable .latchiingerjpiece 26 having associated therewith thelatchproper f2.7.

The .minnow ,bucket -or vpail illustrated-mathe drawings is normally disposed for .transportatiomvin .a con,- .tainer, not shown in the ldrawings,and Vis .adaptedto Vbe removed from `its container andplac/ejdinfthcwater being ishedby means of Aa bail handle 2,8 whichhasfitsnends.

pivotally connected withleyes 29 an'tl-30thaljaresecured to .and upstand from the bucketorpail topll@ In use during fishing vthe minnow bucket is rnormally placed in the water being lishedinforder-that freshwater may be supplied to the minnowsorother live .baitzwithn the bucket and vfor whichpurpose thebucketbody lower end is provided, upwardly vof its bottom 12, with 1a plurality of apertures `31.

When the bucket .or pail is in the water during fshing the same must iloat and be sutiiciently .stable that. the user may raise the cover 15 and remove from the .bucket vor pail the said vbait therein. As illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the preferred means for .formingftheailoatfisa member having a `cross-section with .thesides thereof each angularly related `thereby having a .substantial Wedge shape as illustrated in Fig. 3. Preferably, Vthe iloatmember.32 is yof a length slightlygreatefr than thecircumference of the bucket or pail nteriorly thereof.. The-float member may be formed of any suitable. o'rdesirahle material such` as cork, `cellular type rubber, wood, orthe SOV-called plastics, such aspolystyrene. fTbetlloat member is preferably made .of ,said plastic. and is in the form of plastic foam such .as Styrofoamand.is formed of the said plastic generallyknownaspolystyrene., y The float member 32 has a top 33, `an outer side .3 at vrightiangles to the top, and an inclinedinnerside `35 together providing the oat member with the .cross-section of wedge shape. The member 32 4is' formedasasubstantially rigid elongated ,piece 'having ends 36 ,and 37 Throughout the several views ofl the drawings similar 70 to bring its ends 36 and 37 into abutment to forni aV ring reference characters are-employed to denote the sameor similar parts.

such as illustrated in jFig. 6. In order to assist '"inus'o "rolling the member 32 it is v*provided with aplurality'of relatively closely adjacent cuts or kerfs 38, which, along with the air pockets or cells in the body of the material, permits this rolling or formation of the member 32 into 'a.ring. It ,will be noted that the bases 39 of the kerfs,

see Fig. 3, are parallel with the outer face 34 of the member butV inwardly thereof, wherefore the lower ends of the kerfs .break through the inclined wall 35 at a point upwardly of the bottom of said wall.

It has been found that the most successful results in rolling the member 32 is obtained if the member is backed by a non-elastic though readily flexible or bendable strip of material. Accordingly, a strip of tough paper, fabric,

or the like 40,V is employed having its one end 41 ad-..`

end of the member 32, member end 37 for example. After j. j

the member 32 is rolled or formed into its ring formation with its ends 36 and 37 in abutment the free end 42 of the strip is then adhesively secured over the adjacent portion of the said strip as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6.

The member 32 is now in the form in which it is used,

namely, a ring as shown clearly in Fig. 6.

The said member 32 after being formed into its ring form is inserted within the minnow bucket preferably by applying pressure to two opposed points or sides of the ring so that it momentarily assumes an oval shape which may be inserted through the bucket or pail opening 14 to be interiorly of the bucket whereupon the ring is allowed to spring back to its normal position which is substantially a true circular ring. The ring is then positioned to its inal position within the bucket or pail by# being upwardly moved until its upper end 33 engages with the under surface of the top 11 outwardly of the opening 14 and with the outer side or surface 34 of the float member in substantial engagement with the inner surface of the bucket or pail body 10 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3.1-`=

Since the member 32 was made slightly longer than the circumference of the bucket or pail that it engages, the resulting ring, formed by members 32 and 40, has a diameter slightly in excess of the pail or bucket so thata certain tension is placed on the ring for retaining it in position. However, in order to insure the oat member remaining in the position it is to occupy, the body 10 of the bucket or pail is provided with an inwardly projecting bead 43 which is located at the lower-most point of the member 32 and thereby confines said member between itself and the pail or bucket top 11.

It should be noted that while the member 32 is preferably made of cellular type of foam plastic it may be made from other cellular type slightly compressible materials that have a density less than an equal amount of water and that can be made and manipulated in the manner as just described. Such materials may take the form of cork, rubber, and even certain types of wood.

As disclosed in Fig. 7, the oat member 44 instead of having its inner wall 45 as a straight line to produce a wedge, has its surface rounded and is illustrated in the form of a solid ring which may be cut or formed from a block of cellular type plastic or foam plastic or *other type of material as set out above. It will of course be, readily understood that the float member 44 may be formed from a continuous length of material as was the member 32 and properly machined to be used in the same manner. In the event the float member is formed as a ring it may be inserted Within the body 10 of the bucket or container prior to the attachment of the bottom 12. By the same token the inwardly projecting bead 43 may be formed after the placement of the float ring.

The modication illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 contemplatesa ring oat 46 having a substantially rectangular cross-section as illustrated at 47 in said Fig. 8. The said float member 46 maybe cut from a solid sheet or slab of material to form the ring as illustrated in Fig. 9 and would be positioned within the minnow bucket or pail in the same manner as above described in connection with the float ring 44.

It will be appreciated that by forming the inner wall of the oat member as a straight inclined side 3S or as a receding rounded side 45 that the Vopening into the bucket is retained at its maximum instead of being restricted for a distance into the bucket as would result with the form of iioat as illustrated in Fig. 8. It will also be noted that there has been provided a minnowl bucket which otherwise accomplishes the objects initially set forth.

What is claimed is:

l. In a minnow bucket having a top centrally apertured, a bottom and a body portion between the apertured top and bottom with said body portion perforated for a distance upwardly from `the bottom, a cover for the apertured top pivotally mounted for movement toward and from the top fory closing andopening the top aperture, a float interiorly of the bucket immediately below the top and outwardly of the aperture in said top in the form of a strip member of buoyant cellated material formed into a ring, and astrip of material secured to and exteriorly of the. buoyant cellated material, said ring and second named strip having a diameterV slightly in excess of the inner diameter of theibucket prior to placement therein.

2. A float member for a minnow bucket or the like comprising a ring formed from an elongated strip of buoyant cellated material such as cellular plastic, said strip adapted to have its ends brought into abutment to form a ring and having a top surface and outer surface V at right angles to one another for positioning with respect lto a minnow bucket top and body portion, and means for securing the elongated strip in its ring forming position, said means comprising a strip of material secured to and exteriorly of the buoyant cellated material, and said ring and second named strip having a diameter .slightly in excess of the inner diameter of the bucket into which they are to be placed.

3. A lloat member for a minnow bucket or the like comprising a ring formed from an elongated strip of buoyant cellated material such as cellular plastic, said strip adapted to have its ends brought into abutment to form a ring and having a top surface and outer surface at right angles to one another for positioning with respect to a minnow bucket top and body portion, means for securing the elongated strip of buoyant cellated maten'al in its ring forming position, and said strip of buoyant .cellated material having formed in the face thereof forming the inner surface of the ring a plurality of closely adjacent kerfs to assist in forming the strip into a ring, said means for securing the elongated strip of buoyant material into its ring forming position comprising a strip of material secured to and exteriorly of the buoyant cellated material, and said ring and second named strip having a diameter slightly in excess of the inner diameter of the bucket into which they are to be placed.

4. A float for a minnow bucketor the like formed of a strip member of cellular plastic of a length slightly greater than the interior circumference of the minnow Vbucket or the like with which itis to be used, said strip member being adapted to have its ends brought into contact with one another to form a ring and having the faces thereof which respectively form the top and outer face of the ring at right angles to one another with the inner face ofthe ring inclining downwardly and outwardly from the inner edge of the ring top face to the lower edge of the ring outer face, and means securing the strip member in its ring formationA which having a diameter slightly inV excess of the interior diameter of the minnow bucket o r thevlike is retained in position within 7 5 the minnow bucket by a slight compression onthe ring.

wat,

5. A float for a minnow bucket or the like formed of a strip member of cellular plastic of a length slightly greater than the interior circumference of the minnow bucket or the like with which it is to be used, said strip member being adapted to have its ends brought into con- 5 tace with one another to form a ring and having the faces thereof which respectively form the top and outer face of the ring at right angles to one another with the inner face of the ring inclining dowwardly and outwardly from the inner edge of the ring top face to the lower edge of the ring outer face, and means securing the strip member in its ring formation which having a diameter slightly in excess of the interior diameter of the minnow bucket or the like is retained in position within the minnow bucket by a slight compression on the ring, said strip member having formed therein from the top surface downwardly through the inner surface a plurality of closely adjacent kerfs each having its base parallel with the outer surface of the ring and assisting in allowing the elongated strip member to be formed as a ring.

6. A oat for a minnow bucket or the like formed of a strip member of cellular plastic of a length slightly greater than the interior circumference of the minnow bucket or the like with which it is to be used, said strip member being adapted to have its ends brought into contact with one another to form a ring and having the faces thereof which respectively form the top and outer face of the ring at right angles to one another with the\ inner face of the ring inclining downwardly and outwardly from the inner edge of the ring top face to the lower edge of the ring outer face, and means securing the strip member in its ring formation which having a diameter slightly in excess of the interior diameter of the minnow bucket or the like is retained in position within the minnow bucket by a slight compression on the ring, said strip member having formed therein from the top surface downwardly through the inner surface a plurality of closely adjacent kerfs each having its base parallel with the outer surface of the ring and assisting in allowing the elongated strip member to be formed as a ring, said means for securing the strip member ends to one another comprising a strip of material having one of its ends adhesively secured to one of the strip member ends prior to the abutment thereof and the strip of material having its other end projecting beyond the other strip member end with the material between its ends adhesively secured to the outer surface of the strip member between the ends thereof.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Muncaster June 12, Hemp July 24, Hall Aug. 5, Kennedy Feb. 25, Kendrick May 20, Bailey Jan. 25, Fearnow June 13, Hunt Mar. 27, Croyle Aug. 7, Marsh et al. June 8, Hinsen July 20, Berry et al. Jan. 28, Lindsey July 16, Schnabel Nov. 15, Pfleumer July 23, Carter et al. May 25, Hunter Aug. 8,

FOREIGN PATENTS Australia Great Britain Apr. 7, 

